WASHINGTON. – A Chelsea, Mass., woman pleaded guilty today in federal court to conspiring to engage in a child prostitution scheme, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher for the Criminal Division; United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan for the District of Massachusetts; Sharon E. Ormsby, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in New England; Edward Davis, Commissioner of the Boston Police Department; and Colonel Mark Delaney, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, announced today.
Evelyn Diaz, 22, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Patti B. Saris to an indictment charging her with one count of conspiracy to engage in a child prostitution scheme, two counts of transportation of a minor to engage in prostitution, and three counts of sex trafficking of children. Diaz was arrested on Friday, July 7, 2006.
As part of the plea agreement, Diaz admitted that between approximately July 2003 and May 2005, she operated an escort service that advertised in multiple publications and websites, and sent individuals—including minors—on prostitution calls in and around Boston. Diaz primarily operated the business out of her home in Chelsea. In addition, Diaz at times traveled to other states for the purpose of having individuals—including minors—engage in commercial sex. Diaz kept all or part of the money obtained for the sex acts performed.
Diaz also admitted that in July of 2003, she transported Minor A and Minor B, ages 15 and 13 respectively, to New York City to engage in prostitution. Diaz arranged this meeting through her business, paid for the hotel, supplied condoms and received the money paid by the callers.
Judge Saris scheduled sentencing for April 27, 2007. Diaz faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison on the conspiracy charge; a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 30 years in prison on the transportation of a minor charges; a 40 year maximum sentence on two of the sex trafficking of children charges; and a maximum life sentence on the third sex trafficking charge.
A charge of conspiracy to engage in a child prostitution scheme is still pending against Diaz’s co-defendant, Victor Diaz, 23, of East Boston, Mass.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Boston Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dana Gershengorn in Sullivan’s Major Crimes Unit, and Wendy Waldron, Trial Attorney for the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.
This case is part of the Innocence Lost Initiative, a cooperative effort to prevent and prosecute child prostitution between the FBI, the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
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07-034